Safety back device for ear ornaments



July 16, 1940. P. REETER SAFETY BACK DEVICE FOR EAR ORNAMENTS INVE N To?(2)2 Fez/er BY W ATTORNEY Filed Nov. 4, 1939 Patented July 16, 1940PATENT o FicE SAFETY BACK DEVICE FOR EAR ORNAMENTS Philip Reiter, NewYork, N. Y. Application November 4, 1939, Serial No. 302,841

8 Claims.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in a safety backdevice for ear ornaments.

The invention has foran object the supporting and association of a clampbar on the clasp of an ornament, preferably for the ear, in a certainflexible manner. I More specifically, the invention contemplates the useof resilient means for urging the clamp bar forwards to flexibly engagethe ear, and

' arranged in a wobbling manner so that the clamp bar is loose toconform with the angular face of the ear portion against which itengages.

Still further the invention contemplates the use of guide pins on theclamp bar to guide and hold the clamp bar against displacement, while atthe same time arranged in a manner so as not to interfere with thewobbling condition mentioned.

Still further the invention proposes a certain construction of the clampbar characterized by air pockets adapted to have a suction effect whenpressed against the soft fiesh of the ear lobes.

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects andadvantages thereof, reference will be had to the following descriptionand accompanying drawing, and to the appended claims in which thevarious novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawing forming a mate-- rial part of thisdisclosure:

Fig. 1 is an elevational view of an ornament provided with a safety backdevice in accordance with this invention and shown schematically mountedon an ear.

Fig. 2 is a rear elevational View of the ornament illustrated in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an edge elevational view of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary enlarged sectional view taken on the line 4-4 ofFig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary enlarged sectional view of a portion of theclamp and the clamp bar illustrated in Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is a front elevational viewof the clamp bar illustrated per se.

Fig. 7 is a sectional view taken on the line l-'l of Fig. 6. p I

Fig. 8 is an elevational view of a. clamp bar constructed in accordancewith another embodiment of this invention.

Fig. 9 is a front elevational View of another ornament equipped with asafety back in accordance with another form of this invention.

Fig. 10 is a side elevational view of the ornament shown in Fig. 9.

Fig. 11 is a sectional view taken on the line ll-ll of Fi 10.

Fig. 12 is a sectional view taken on the line 12-12 of Fig. 10.

Fig. 13 is a fragmentary enlarged sectional view taken on the line 13-43of Fig. 12. i

Fig. 14 is a fragmentary enlarged elevational view of another ornamentwith the safety back device constructed according to a modification ofthis invention, certain parts thereof being broken away to exposeinterior parts.

Fig. 15 is a fragmentary sectional view looking in the direction of theline 15-45 of Fig. 14.

Fig. 16 is a fragmentary sectional view of a safety back deviceconstructed in accordance with a modification of this invention.

Fig. 17 is a sectional view taken on the line ll-ll of Fig. 16.

Fig. 13 is another fragmentary sectional view of another safety backdevice constructed according to still another form of this invention.

Fig. 19 is a perspective view of a modified clamp bar.

Fig. .20 isa perspective view of a back plate used jointly with theclamp bar illustrated in Fig. 19. i

Fig. 21 is a plan view, showing the assembly of the members illustratedin Figs. 19 and 20.

The safety back device for ear ornaments, in accordance with thisinvention, is used in conjunction with an ornament 20 mounted upon afiat back plate 2!. A clasp is mounted on the said back plate andincludes a holding strip 22 having a cylindrical socket 23. In additionto the holding strip 22, the clasp includes a support 24 upon which theholding strip 22 is pivotally mounted by a pin 25. The, holding strip 22has a leaf spring portion 22 engaging against a flat area 24 of thesupport 24. The leaf spring portion 22 functions to resiliently urge thefront end of the holding strip 22 towards the back plate 2|. The outerend 22 of the holding strip 221s flared outwards so that it may beeasily gripped to pivot the catch into an open position. When this isdone the spring portion 22 will engage the rear edge 24* of the support24. Clasps of this type have long been known and further details of thisrespect will therefore be lit ment 35.

vent turning of the clamp bar 26 about the stem 27 as an axis.

The outer ends of the clamp bar 26 are formed with air sockets 3|adapted to engage against the flesh of the lobe of the ear to expel someair and act as a suction holding means. In Fig. I the dot and dash lines32 schematcially indicate an ear. The ornament 20 is shown mounted onthe lobethereof.

The operation of the device is as follows:

The flared end 22 of the holding. stripv 32 may be manually gripped and"pulled outwards to pivot outward the holdingstrip 22. The ornament maynow be placed against the lobe of the 'ar and then the'holding strip 22.maybe pivoted back towards its original position so that the clamp bar25 engages the back of the ear. lobe. t is pointed out that the clampbar 26 is flexibly supported since'the stern 21 is loose. in the socket23. This permits the'bar 26 to properly seat itself on the surface ofthe earlobe.

The pins 29 will not interfere with the looseness of the clamp bar sincethe openings 3 13' are relatively large. When the clamp ba fi gages theear lobe the spring 32 will be slightly compressed with the head 28moving free from the end of the socket 23. "Thus the spring Q functionsto resiliently engage the clamp bar 26 against the ear. This pressure issulhcient to cause some of the flesh of the ear lobe to enter the airpockets 3!, displacing some of the air and creating a suction eflectwhich assists in maintaining the ornament on the ear lobe.

In Fig. 8 a clamp bar 2Shasbeen illustrated intended to be substitutedfor the clamp bar 26 in the prior former the invention. This clamp barZ6 distinguishes from the prior clamp bar merely in shape. tisfshownprovided with air pockets 3! at its ends. It is also 'prov'idedwith thestem 21 and with the guide pinsZQ. In so far as shape is concerned, ithas end. portions with straight sides; and has relatively straight sideportions. The clamp bar 2 6 has rounded ends and curved side portions.

In the modified form of the. invention illus trated in Figs. 9-13inclusive; the safety back device is'shown associated with an 'ear orna-This ear ornament is provided with a clasp consisting of a support Mmounted on the back of the ornament 35and supporting'the holding strip22. This holdingfstrip isprov'ided with the cylindrical socket 23. 'Aclamp member 28 in the form of a wheel is mounted upon a stem 21 whichloosely engagesthrough the socket 213 and which is provided at itslouterend with a head 28. A spring 32 is coaxially mountedon the stem 2? andacts between the socket zt and the clamping member 26% to resilientlyurge the.

' clamping member outwards.

The clamping member 25 is normally urged against acomplementary'clarnping element 26* mounted on the back ofl'the ornament35.; The, holding strip 22 is pivotally supported by a pintle 25 and isprovided with the'leaf spring; portion. 22*, as explained with respectto Figs. se se The flared end 22 of theholding strip 22 may be manuallygripped to pivotopenthefholding strip bi es a he ream-series;

, opening in a clamp bar 46. tion til is riveted down in relativelylarge flat head it outer surface ornamented.-

be engaged on the front of the ear lobe and the holding strip 22 behindthe ear lobe in a manner engages the back strip in another way. Morespecifically, an ornament 38 is provided with a back holding strip Ascrew it threadedly engages through the holding strip 35 and at itsfront end has a reduced portion to which is engaged through a centralThe reduced pora manner so that the clamp bar M is loose and may wobble.The other end of the screw 45! is provided with a A pair of pins iftProject from the clamp bar ll. and pass through apertures it in theholding strip 351 so as to hold the clamp bar t! against turning. Thepins 62 are suificiently closely spaced so as to be disposed beneath thehead it. Consequently, the head de acts as a cover for the pins andprevents articles of cloth or other objects from being accidentallyhooked onto the ends of the pins 32.

The holding strip 39 is formed with a plurality of extra openings 53into which the pins 42 could have, been engaged prior to the time thatthe end it. was riveted down. In this way the manufacturer, may set theclamp bar All at a desirable angular position relative to the ornamenttil}. If the, pins 52 are v a from the openings it when the screw til isturned in completely, but this arrangement is undesirable in that thespace between the ends of the pins 32' and the head M would be largeenough to allow objects to pins.

In Figs 16 and 17 another. modified form efthe invention has beendisclosed which distinguishes from the prior form in the. fact that,theholding strip 39 is provided With a cap portion 39% which engagesover the pins E2 to encase them. The screw iii passes through an openingeil formed inthe cap, Moreover, the. pins 32' are of rectangular shapeintransverse cross section. The openings 33 are formedin. the holdingstrip at: for the pins t2" are of corresponding rectangular shapes. Inother respectsthis formof the invention is similar to theprevious form.

InFigf 18;.still another modifiedform of the semblance to theform shownin Figs. 16 and 17. According to this form, a cap member M ismounted-upon theholding strip 35 of an ornament 5. The cap member is mayhave its This cap member: M has a bushing i? rotatively mounted throughits rear end. A screw 48 threadedly engages through the bushing il. Thisscrew passes frontwards and through an opening it of a transversepartition Ellformed upon thefront end of the cap 44. The front end ofthe screw 48 has a reduced portion 48 which is engaged through a clampbar 5!. Thisreduced portion is. is riveted down in a manner so that theclamp bar 5! is loose to wobble. Several pins52. project from the clampbar. 5| andpassthrough apertures53 formed in t a ti in i The bushing-J7may be IQtEtlQQdftOHCQH-SE the screw 48 to travel forwards orrearwardsto move.

short enough they would come out The clamping member 26 is V hook on tothe ends of the u I the clamp bar 5| correspondingly. The bushing 41 mayalso have surface ornamentation.

In Figs. 19 to 21 inclusive, a still further modified form of theinvention has been disclosed which distinguishes from the prior formsessentially in the way in which the clamp bar is supported. According tothis form of the invention there is a holding strip 56 which is providedwith several projecting lugs 51 formed with apertures 51. The clamp bar26 is provided with a lug '58 having an aperture 58 This lug 58 isengaged between the lugs 51, and a pin 59 is engaged through theapertures of the lugs for pivotally and loosely supporting the clamp bar26. The clamp bar 26 has several air pockets 3| in its ends for engagingthe ear to produce some suction holding effect. The clamp bar 26 is freeto swivel to such an angle with respect to the holding strip 56 toengage ones ear to most effectively grip the particular contour of theear at the area where the ear ornament is mounted.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiments of myinvention, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to theprecise constructions herein disclosed and the right is reserved to allchanges and modifications comclaim as new, and desire ing within thescope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I to secure by United StatesLetters Patent is:

l. A safety back device for ear ornaments, comprising an ornament, aholding strip for the ornament, a screw threadedly engaged through theholding strip, a clamp bar loosely mounted on the front end of thescrew, several pins projecting from said clamp bar through apertures inthe holding strip, and a head for said screw, and a cap mounted on theholding strip and engaging over said pins and having an opening throughwhich the screw passes.

2. A safety back device for ear ornaments, comprising an ornament havinga holding strip, an ornamental cap on said holding strip, a bushingrotatively mounted through said strip, a screw threadedly engagedthrough said bushing, a clamp bar loosely mounted on the front end ofsaid screw, several pins projecting from said clamp bar and engagingapertures formed in a portion of said cap.

3. A safety back device for ear ornaments, comprising an ornament, aholding strip for the ornament, a screw threadedly engaged through theholding strip, a clamp bar loosely mounted on the front end of said bar,several pins projecting from said clamp bar through apertures in saidholding strip, and an enlarged head mounted on the other end of saidscrew and engaging over said pins.

4. A safety back device for ear ornaments, comprising an ornament, aholding strip for the ornament, a hollow cap mounted on said holdingstrip, a bushing rotatively mounted on the back wall of said cap, ascrew threadedly engaged through said bushing and freely passing throughthe front wall of said cap, and a clamp bar mounted on the front end ofsaid screw to be moved towards said ornament and away therefrom as saidbushing is turned to extend and re tract said screw.

5. A safety back device for ear ornaments, comprising an ornament, aholding strip for the ornament, a hollow cap mounted on said holdingstrip, a bushing rotatively mounted on the back wall of said cap, ascrew threadedly engaged through said bushing and freely passing throughthe front wall of said cap, and a clamp bar mounted on the front end ofsaid screw to be moved towards said ornament and away therefrom as saidbushing is turned to extend and retract said screw, said clamp bar beingfixedly mounted on said screw, and means for holding said clamp bar in afixed position relative to said cap.

6. A safety back device for ear ornaments, comprising an ornament, aholding strip for the ornament, a hollow cap mounted on said holdingstrip, a bushing rotatively mounted on the back wall of said cap, ascrew threadedly engaged through said bushing and freely passing throughthe front wall of said cap, and a clamp bar mounted on the front end ofsaid screw to be moved towards said ornament and away therefrom as saidbushing is turned to extend and retract said screw, said clamp bar beingfixedly mounted on said screw, and means for holding said clamp bar in afixed position relative to said cap, comprising several pins extendingfrom the back face of said clamp bar and into the interior of saidhollowcap.

'7. A safety back device for ear ornaments, comprising an ornament, aholding strip for the ornament, a hollow cap mounted on said holdingstrip, of said cap, a clamp bar fixedly mounted on the front end of saidscrew, pins extending from the back face of said clamp bar and into saidcap for holding said clamp bar in a fixed position relative to said cap,and a bushing threadedly engaging said screw and rotatively mountedonthe back wall of said cap, whereby said clamp bar may be moved towardsand away from said ornament as said bushing is turned to extend andretract said screw from the front wall of said cap.

8. A safety back device for ear ornaments, comprising an ornament, aholding strip mounted on the back of said ornament, a screw threadedlyextending through said holding strip, a clamp bar mounted on the frontend of said screw to be moved towards said ornament, several pinsmounted on the back face of said clamp bar and passing freely throughcomplementary openings formed in said holding strip for preventing saidclamp bar from rotating relative to said holding strips, and meansassociated with said screw and covering the free ends of said pins.

PHILIP REITER.

a screw freely extended through the walls

